Gas-generator



(No Medal.) R. H. SMITH.

"GalsGenerato'r.

No. 239,871. Patented April 5, l88l.

$8686 zveefa NJETEJN, PHGYO-UYHOQRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D Q

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROLAND H. SMITH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-GENERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,871, dated April 5, 1881. Application filed October 23, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROLAND H. SMITH, of

Pittsbnrg,in the county of Alleghen y,and in the to provide a means for preventing too excessive a diffusion of heat into the apartment in which the apparatus is located, when required to provide an improved means of mounting the retort in the stove or furnace, and for facilitating the removal of deposited solid carbon from the retort, and also to furnish an improved protective coating to the portion of the retort which is subjected to the intense heat of the fire, to prevent the same from being rapidly burned out, as more fully hereinafter specified. These objects I attain by the apparatus and devices illustrated in the accompanyin gdrawings, in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of my apparatus, with one portion of the jacket removed; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the apparatus,

' showing the tubes which support the retort,

and the projections on the retort, audits protective coating and lining; and Fig. 3 a top view of the retort and its lining.

The letter A indicates the stove or furnace, which is substantially spherical in form, and provided with a grate in its lower part and exit-pipe 0 above for the escape of the products of combustion from the fire. The said furnace is also provided with an ash-pit, D, and suitable draft-openin gs, and a door, E, for the introduction of fuel.

The letter F indicates acylindrical or other shaped jacket, constructed in two parts, and provided with suitable fastening devices a, by means of which the parts may be secured together. The said jacket is adapted to inclose the stove, suitable openings being formed at the line of juncture of the two parts for the passage of the exit-pipe of the stove and the pipes leading to and from the retort, as indicated. The jacket is also provided with an opening and door, G, by which access canbe had to the feed-door of the stove. At the lower part of the jacket a number of openings, 0, are formed for the admission of a draft of air, the jacket being adapted to rest upon the base or hearth H of the stove when in place.

The letter I indicates an exit leading from the upper part of the jacket, which may be connected with a suitable ventilator above the roof of the building in which the apparatus is located, to carry off the heated air from the jacket, and thus prevent the diffusion of the heat from the stove into the room or apartment in which it is situated.

The letter K indicates the retort, which is of annular form, as isnsual in the class of gasgenera-tors above mentioned. From the said retort, at suitable intervals, project a series of any convenient number of tubes or pipes, L, four being represented in the present instance, although more or less may be used, as may be found convenient, as above indicated. These pipes, at their outer ends, are provided with removable plugs M, for the purpose hereinafter more fully explained. The said pipes form supports for the retort, by means of which the same is held in proper position in the stove, the pipes being seated in and passing through suitable apertures N in the walls of the stove, so as to project outside of the same. The lower portion of the retort, or the outside of the section forming the interior lower wall of the annulus, is provided with a series of projections, a, to form a support for a lining or protective covering to prevent the retort from being injured by excessive heat. This lining consists of a cement of fire-clay or other refractory material, which may be appliedin a plastic state and dried.

Theletter P indicates a metallic section of the general configuration of the lower inner section of the retort, and adapted to be used in connection with said retort, being applied and secured to the surface of the same against the projections thereon. The said section may be employed in connection with the plastic lining or without the same, in the latter case an airspace being left between its wall and the wall of the retort, which furnishes the desired protection against heat. At the outside of the upper edge of the lining-section are formed lugs 19, which are adapted to engage the lugs r on the lower section of the retort and hold said lining-section in place.

The letter R indicates the inlet for the liquid hydrocarbon or gas-producing material, and. S the service-pipe leading to the gas-holder, both of which are constructed and arranged in the usual manner.

The operation of generating the gas is the same as usual, the oil being supplied through the pipe R, and the gas taken oft through the pipe S. When the jacket is in place the radiated heat from the stove is carried off by the current of air through the jacket audits diffusion through the room is thus prevented. To clear the retort of deposited solid carbon the supply of oil through the pipe R is stopped and a current of water is admitted slowly in its place. The plugs are removed from the tubes L. The steam generated from the Water, entering the retort under the influence of theintense heat, decomposes the deposited carbon, the resultant gases escaping through said tubes. Of course it is to be understood that the process of clearing out the carbon should be effected immediately after the generation of the gas has been stopped, in order to economize heat, although it may be effected at any other time when the apparatus is idle.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the retort and the stove, the tubular projections, extending through the walls of the stove, and their plugs, whereby the retort is supported in the stove, and provision is made for the escape of gases developed in the clearing operation, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the section provided with projections, as described, the metallic section adapted to be fitted thereto, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of October, 1880.

ROLAND H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

S. J. (Ross, ANDREW HUMBERT. 

